What's on: 15 things to do this weekend (September 2-4)

Each week, we bring you a round-up of community and family-friendly events taking place across Maidenhead, Slough, Windsor, Burnham, Twyford and the surrounding area.

Staff reporter

11:20AM, Friday 02 September 2016

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FRIDAY:

SLOUGH: A two-day celebration will begin on Friday at The Curve and in the High Street.

These will include a land train to ferry people from the High Street to The Curve, which officially opens today, dance, art and music performances, magical treasure trails, a mini-farm, face-painting and tours of the new facility.

TWYFORD: The Italian Market will return today (Friday), with a number of the area’s businesses promising discounts alongside the usual Italian food available.

The businesses will pitch up outside Waitrose, in London Road, from 9am.

A total of 20 stalls will be ready to sell customers a range of goods.

It is part of the Italia in Piazza event, which travels the country promoting ‘real Italian food’.

The market, which has been arranged by the Twyford Village Partnership – a group that is currently undergoing a rebrand that will include a change of name to Twyford Together – will also feature a raffle for Twyford Charities Together.

Among the offers available to customers are discounts on selected pasta, herbs, sauces and spices, deals for vinegar and olive oil, fresh eggs from Riverways Farm at half price, and five free daffodil bulbs with every purchase made at Sheeplands’ stall.

At the previous market, in May, the local businesses were given their own stall, surrounded by various stalls associated with the Italia in Piazza event.

SATURDAY:

ASCOT: The Ascot Horticultural Society Autumn Show takes place tomorrow (Saturday) at Carnation Hall in Chavey Down Road.

There will be vegetables, fruit and flowers on display as well as a tombola and raffle.

It will open at 2.30pm and entrance is 50p for adults and free for children.

For more details about the society visit www.ascothorticulturalsociety. org.uk

As well as boat races on the River Thames from 10am, there is set to be plenty of entertainment on land at Cookham Moor, from a variety of games for the children to a vintage car and motorbike display, a dog show, silent auction and a performance from the Bisham Concert Band.

The event is organised by the Rotary Clubs of Marlow Thames and Cookham Bridge and will be raising money for the charity Creating Better Futures.

MAIDENHEAD: Follow in the footsteps of the Olympic hockey team’s golden girls and have a go at the sport at HockeyFest on Saturday.

The session is for men and women of all ages and abilities and is organised by Great Britain Hockey. It will be held at the Altwood School astro pitch in Altwood Road from 1pm to 4pm.

MAIDENHEAD: The Larchfield Festival returns this weekend with games, entertainment and an outdoor cinema.

Organised by River Church and now in its seventh year, the festival is coming to Desborough Park on Saturday, from 11am to 10pm.

There will be a whole host of free activities, including the Larchfield Bake Off.As the sun goes down, curl up with popcorn to watch an outdoor viewing of either E.T or the Jungle Book – the film to be watched can be voted for during the day. Donations are welcome and all extra funds are given to the community centre.

TWYFORD: Loddon Hall will become the venue for two shows on Saturday as the Twyford and Ruscombe Horticultural Association and the Twyford and Ruscombe Art Group hold exhibits.

The horticultural show will open for public viewing at the hall, in Loddon Road, from 2.30pm, and the art group’s exhibits for its 50th anniversary will take place from 2pm to 4pm.

WINDSOR: Live open air music will accompany the Windsor Allotments Fete tomorrow (Saturday).

The event will raise money for Thames Hospice, and give visitors the chance to stock up on gardening essentials.

As well as music there will be Scottish dancing, an art display, artwork for children, flower arranging and a range of activities and stalls. It will take place from 2-5pm at Gardeners Hall in St Leonards Road.

WINDSOR: A selection of rare cars from across the globe will be on show at Windsor Castle this weekend as part of the Concours of Elegance.

The show is returning to the Queen’s residence for the first time since it was hosted there in 2012 and will feature vintage motors including a 1950 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV.

Each classic car owner will be handed a vote to determine the ‘Best of Show’ winner while a panel of experts will also cast their eyes over a fleet of the country’s finest Jaguars as part of The Jaguar Trophy.

Petrol heads can also see the impressive Grand Depart on Sunday when 60 vintage cars start their engines and round off the weekend by leaving the grounds of Windsor Castle.

The show will be open to the public from 9.30am to 5.30pm tomorrow (Saturday) and from 9.30am to 5pm on Sunday.

Visit http://concoursofelegance.co.uk/tickets/ for details.

WRAYSBURY: A royal themed garden party is taking place tomorrow (Saturday).

Live music, art and a photo exhibition of the Queen at 90 will be just some of the attractions on offer at St Andrew’s Church, in Windsor Road. Children can also enter a prince and princess fancy dress competition. Money raised from the event, which is running from 2-4pm, will help support the church.

SUNDAY:

ASCOT: Star pianist Robert Cheung will be tinkling the ivories at a musical soiree organised by the Rotary Club of Ascot.

The event aims to celebrate the talents of young rotary musicians and will be taking place at Maidenhead’s Norden Farm Centre for the Arts on Sunday.

Tickets cost £16.

Call the box office on 01628 788997 to book.

MAIDENHEAD: At least 2,000 runners are expected to pound the streets of the town on Sunday morning in the sixth Maidenhead Half Marathon.

The area around the town hall will be a hive of activity as the site of the race village, with the start and finish line in adjoining St Ives Road.

The starting gun fires at 9.30am with competitors running through the town centre before heading out along the river on two loops around north Maidenhead and Cookham before returning through Kidwells Park and the High Street to the finish line.

Motorists are advised there will be some disruption along the route. Road closures will be in place but will be lifted in much of the town centre by 10.30am and between noon and 2pm on the rest of the route.

Access to the Nicholsons car park will not be affected but cars will not be allowed to leave until 10.30am when the southern end of Queen Street reopens.

A new 1.5-mile family fun run starts shortly after the main race outside the town hall at 9.35am.

Late entries to both races can be made in the Nicholsons Centre on Saturday from 11am to 3pm and then again on the Sunday morning before the races begin.

Among the competitors will be 117 runners who have completed all five previous Maidenhead half marathons – you can spot them by their gold race numbers.

This year’s half marathon is sponsored by the Shanly Foundation and is raising money for the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service.

For more information about road closures call 01494 630759.

MARLOW: Pedal power is set to hit Marlow, with the return of an annual charity cycling event.

The Marlow Red Kite Ride, which is now in its fifth year, is due to set off from Marlow Sports Club, in Pound Lane, on Sunday morning.

The event is expected to see about 700 amateur athletes cross the start line, tackling routes of either 50, 80 or 100 miles through the Chilterns, taking in parts of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire.

Since it started, the race has raised more than £20,000 for a range of charities and good causes.

This time around it is teaming up with the Cycling Projects charity and its Wheels for All initiative, inspired by Paralympic Gold medal winning rower Naomi Riches, who lives in Marlow, which supports a centre providing specially adapted cycles for people with disabilities.

The newest of these facilities is based at Bisham Abbey.

Visit www.marlowredkiteride.co.uk to find out more.

SOUTH BUCKS: Children and families will get the chance to drive radio control model boats at the Black Park Lake Model Boat Club's annual fundraiser on Sunday.

The event will run from 10am to around 4pm at Park Lake, by Black Park Road and will raise money for the Windsor Hospice.

There will be a tombola and families will be able to rent model boats to ride on the lake.

Outside entrance to Wexham Park Hospital, Slough The first of three demonstrations will be held against Frimley NHS Trust plans to create a wholly owned subsidiary for some its staff. Unions claim the move would represent a privatisation of the NHS.